SAS Commando - Variants

[Hopper]

Hi all – first post, YAY!

Just recently got back into collecting AF after a gap of ‘cough’ years (a slightly sobering figure!). Good to see this website, and that I’m not alone in being a person of a rapidly advancing age who just wants to be 8 again!

Checking some of my figures recently, I noticed there were some marked differences in moulding and form between some of them, and in particular the SAS Commando. I had just assumed they were all the same and were re-painted versions of the original Release 1 Commando, but this, it seems, is not the case. Now obviously there are variants of many of the figures, and the cataloguing of these… well, that way madness lies. But these were so different – different trousers and hand/arm.

If we assume that the Release 1 Commando was the original, it figures that the re-painted SAS version came next. This version was then supplied with the flatter hand/arm mentioned elsewhere in the forum (viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3556). Next came the standard commando upper, but with the Space Security Trooper’s Trousers. And finally, this figure came with the flat hand/arm.

I propose the following typology of the SAS Commando.

Type 1 – Repainted Release 1 Commando
Type 2 – Type 1 with flat hand
Type 3 – Repainted Release 1 Commando upper, with Space Security Trooper’s Trousers
Type 4 – Type 3 with flat hand

I'll post a photo of all four when I work out how to!

There may be other figures that have similar differences, so I would like to propose that we start a definitive list of these types of variants – it may be of some use to the more completist collectors. What does everyone (anyone?) think?

Actually, all this seems a little sad, but there you go, and hope this helps!

Cheers.

[Double-Tap]

welcome to the gang Hopper.

dont really know too much about varient figs myself but someone here will be able to help.
possibly steved??? i think steve has every toy ever made

Bill

[Andy1672]

This has been discussed briefly on other threads, It would seem that a lot of the figures had a remold with better hand sculpts etc .....

as for the SAS Commando, if you discount the mold variation I think there are 4 combos.

Repaint of series one Commando with grey camoflage
Repaint of series one Commando without camo ( all black )
same figure with space patroller legs with grey camoflage
same figure with space patroller legs without camo ( all black )

I would class the second 2 figures as the Boat Patrol even tho some were released as Commando and vise versa.

[Hopper]

Yes!

I had assumed that Stakeout's defining characteristic was his all-black uniform, and so left him out of the discussion. but if we throw him into the mix then we have a number of variations.

Also, i notice that the last two (from right) in your photo (thanks for that BTW) have the flatter hand and different arm i mentioned. So if we include Stakeout we have 8 variations of the figure:

Type 1 – Repainted Release 1 Commando with round hand (Grey Camo)
Type 2 – Type 1 (All Black)
Type 3 – Type 1 with flat hand (Grey Camo)
Type 4 - Type 2 with flat hand (all Black)
Type 5 – Repainted Release 1 Commando upper, with Space Security Trooper’s Trousers with round hand (Grey Camo)
Type 6 – Type 5 (All Black)
Type 7 – Type 5 with flat hand (Grey Camo)
Type 8 – Type 5 with flat hand (All Black)

Any more for anymore?
Anyone else?

I'm going for a lie down!

[Andy1672]

I think you pretty much have it covered !

I posted some variant pics a while ago ... black major and a few others.

SteveD is our resident variant expert !

[gung-hoeddie]

i don't know a huge amount about the palitoy variants so this has been rather interesting, i've just looked through mine and i've a few of them but not all yet...

[Hopper]

I only have four so far, but will try!

It is interesting, not only from an obsessive perspective, but also as it illustrates the chronological development of the toyline (presumably Types 1 and 2 came first, then 5 and 6, followed by 3, 4, 7 and 8 with the later 'flat hand/arm' moulding).

Dunno?! As an archaeologist it interests me anyway!

Who'd have thought and could be so problematic!

It would be great to compile a list of the major variants (rather than, say, the slight colour variations of paint).

I'll get round to it one day, first i shall trawl the forum for any threads of relevance - any pointers in the right direction?

[Andy1672]

heres a link to an older thread .......viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3049&hilit=black+major+variant

there is also another thread somewhere with Red Shadow variant pics

[Hopper]

Excellent, thanks Andy - that's a start
Am dismayed that minesweeper has a variant - I have a complete one from back in the day, but now i'll have to fork out for the variant. Bugger

I'll post the results of this soon.
And everyone, have a look at your figures- tell me what you see!

[paulitoy]

-

This is all very interesting.

I can see that I have a kindred spirit in our Hopper here.

This stuff brings out the real geek in me.

The Baron has mooted the idea in the past, but nobody has bitten yet, but a good way to begin this whole idea is to list the different basic parts that the AF ranges used. Obviously Series 1 first and build up.

A list of the 6 or so basic leg moulds, torsos, arms....

Like someone did with GI Joe on YoJoe.

From there you see how new moulds were added with successive range increases and also how diffferent combinations of figure parts were used.

It's a nice little project if someone has the time and energy.

A nice spread sheet and 'variant names' would probably ensue.

We'd then have, for example, the Commando figure with Version 3 legs, etc, etc...

Like I said above, I love this stuff and it brings out the collector geek in me.

Sadly, I have no time or energy to do it myself.

Hopper...?